Mini Shilparamam draws huge crowds

Uppal: Allaying all fears if the Mini Shilparamam would attract crowds, the cultural space is agog with activity and is teeming with people, especially on weekends and on Sunday.

The handloom shops, Amphitheatre, play area for children are major attraction spots. "People from nearby areas are frequenting the Mini Shilparamam. During weekdays, 2,300 to 2,500 people visit it and on Saturday the number of visitors rises to 7,000. It touches a peak on Sunday with 14,000 people. The number could have been even more but rains kept people back from coming," says Raghuveer, Manager at Shilparamam.

"We are satisfied with the first week crowd but still we are doing some ground work for the convenience of people," says Sucharitha, PRO at Shilparamam. "Village museum, function hall, boating will be arranged within three months. Extra washrooms are also coming up."

Sales still to pick up

Though, crowd is coming in huge number, sales in some shops still has to pick up say owners. "Small scale items such as handkerchiefs are getting sold in good number. I'm making just Rs 3000 during weekends," says Sanjeeva, Pochampally Handlooms shop owner in Shilparamam.

"For every single craft, they have allotted four shops here. This is affecting the sales of some shops. Shops which are at entrance are at an advantage. On weekdays, the sales is just Rs 1000 and during weekends it is Rs 3000- Rs 4ooo," says Md Adil, Bangle shop owner in Shilparamam.

"The shops are given to DC Handicraft membership card holders, it comes under Ministry of Textile and the rent of the shops is also reasonable price of Rs 4,500 rupees per month," says Anand Krishna, Gujarat Handicrafts shop owner in Shilparamam.

"People coming here are enjoying the food a lot. During week days, we are selling up to Rs 6000 to Rs 7000 rupees where as in weekends the sales touch Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 rupees," says Ananth, Fast food centre owner in Shilparamam.

"It's very good place to enjoy with family. Children have spacious place to roam around. I thought it would not match up to the one in Madhapur but it is as good here," says Srinivas Nedunuri, Content Writer of Eye Ads Pvt Ltd.

"We were skeptical of the odour from Musi nala but it is not as bad," said Priyanka, a B Tech student from Vignan College of Engineering.